Indian security forces on Monday crossed the Line of Control and gunned down three Pakistani soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch sector.

Indian Army crosses LoC, guns down three Pakistani soldiers in retaliatory action: Sources

In a sharp response two days after four Indian soldiers, including an Army major, were killed in ceasefire violation by Pakistani Army, Indian security forces on Monday crossed the Line of Control and gunned down three Pakistani soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch sector.

According to India TV sources, the security forces crossed the LoC in RakhChakri sub division of Poonch area at around 06:00 pm on Monday and stormed up to 200 metres inside, killing three Pakistani soldiers and injuring five. Pakistan’s ISPR confirmed the death of its soldiers.

"The shelling occurred at Rukh Chakri sector in Rawlakot and received a strong response from Pakistani forces," the DawnNews reported, quoting Pakistani military's media wing the Inter-Services Public Relations.

The incident comes two days after Pakistan killed four Indian Army officials ceasefire violation in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Major Moharkar Prafulla Ambadas (32) of Maharashtra, Lance Naik Gurmail Singh (34) and Lance Naik Kuldeep Singh (30) of Punjab, and Sepoy Pargat Singh (30) of Haryana were killed in a cross-border firing by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Keri sector on Saturday.

The cross-border retaliatory action was carried out by a small unit, under the supervision of 25 Division of Indian Army, with the soldiers equipped with high-tech weapons like Tavor assault rifle and Improvised Explosive Device (IED), the sources said.

The year 2017 has seen a significant rise in ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC, with over 780 ceasefire violations reported in the year - up from 153 in 2014,152 in 2015 and 228 in 2016.

Besides unprovoked attacks on India along the LoC, this year has also witnessed 120 attacks along the 198km international border.